5 steps to gratitude.

“You should be grateful for what you have”.

This is something we always hear but how many of us take this advice in one ear and out the other without really considering what it means. Maybe even interpreting it as a little passive aggressive.

After all, how can we practice gratitude when we are constantly overwhelmed with negative situations and misfortunes in our daily life.

However I can confirm that there is some truth to this advice we are constantly receiving because being grateful can entirely alter our mindset, in return making us feel a sense of fulfilment and happiness. Throughout psychology research it has been proven that gratitude is consistently associated with a greater sense of happiness and can improve our emotional, social, personality skills and improve our health . It can help us:

· Feel more positive emotions

· Improve our health- our immune system, more energy, a natural “high”, we can sleep better.

· Build stronger relationships

· Deal with hardships

· Relish good experiences.

The list goes on. Gratitude is a powerful process in which we are able to shift our energy and can attract more positivity and good things into our life.

So what is gratitude? Gratitude is possessing the quality to be thankful and to show appreciation for what is good in our lives and not taking for granted what we usually would.

That brings us back to the question, “but how can we be grateful when we are constantly experiencing negativity and misfortunes”. This is when it becomes more difficult, there has certainly been times in my life were I have found it hard to be grateful for things but no matter what the situation is there is always a silver lining in which we can be grateful for. This is easier said than done, especially when battling with depression or grief and struggling with other mental struggles.

Following these 5 steps can help aid the process of achieving gratitude.

1. Start Small- start by writing down or saying aloud a few things per day in which you are grateful for they can be as big or as little as you want. You can even practice these in a small mediation.

2. Try creating a gratitude jar in which you fill with little gratitude notes and when you have a particularly tough day when you are struggling to feel grateful, pull out a note and think of that.

3. Let go of things that don’t serve you- If you are dwelling on the past or things you cannot control, be mindful of this and return your focus on to the present and be grateful for the things you can currently control. Look at my post on forgiveness.

4. Thank yourself and those around you- Take the time to be grateful for your own body and mind and for the greatness you do, improving your self-worth can have dramatic effects on achieving overall gratitude. Showing the people around you that you are grateful of them brings an overall positive feeling to yourself and the person you are showing gratitude towards.

5. Look for the positive- Even though it may not seem like it at times, there is a positive in every situation. Think about how a certain situation has served you, what type of person it has made you, the growth it forced you make and how much depth it added to your life. Be grateful for this. Be aware of the present time and all the good that surrounds you. Take the time to find the positive in any situation.

Be happier, be heathier, find gratitude.